Coffee & Your Teeth: How Your Morning Cup o’ Joe Affects Your Dental Health

Are you a self-proclaimed coffee fanatic? Whether it’s the delicious taste or quick jolt of energy that has you hooked, you’re certainly not alone. According to research provided by the National Coffee Association, over 50% of Americans have at least one cup o’ joe every day. Unfortunately, this much-loved beverage isn’t exactly mouth-healthy. Keep reading to learn how coffee affects your teeth and how you can protect them from staining!

What Effect Does Coffee Have on Your Teeth?

Coffee lovers will be happy to know that a study published by the Annals of Internal Medicine found that drinking a cup of coffee daily could reduce your risk of experiencing a stroke, being diagnosed with diabetes, and developing kidney and respiratory diseases. Sadly, however, drinking too much can cause more harm than good. In addition to increasing your risk of halitosis (a.k.a. bad breath), overconsumption can result in enamel erosion, cavities, and tooth discoloration. Plus, toppings, like sugar and creamer, can exacerbate the issue, leading to extensive dental damage.

5 Prevention Tactics to Implement Right Away

Luckily, if you rely on coffee to jump-start your day, you don’t have to give it up entirely. Instead, you can implement a few best practices to protect your teeth and overall oral health. Here are some to start with:

• Use a straw to prevent your coffee from coming in contact with your teeth.
• Avoid sipping on coffee throughout the day.
• Drink lots of water to rinse away debris from your teeth.
• Brush and floss about 30 minutes after finishing your cup of coffee.
• Eat crunchy veggies, like carrots and celery, which will reduce discoloration and prevent bad breath.

How Your Dentist Can Help

If you are struggling with stubborn stains or heavy discoloration, it is important to speak with your dentist. In addition to providing six-month dental checkups to ensure your teeth are cavity-free, they can also conduct an extensive teeth cleaning, which can break up surface stains effectively. If the dental staining is significant, then cosmetic treatments, like teeth whitening or veneers, can be used to restore your smile to its former glory.

If your morning isn’t complete without a cup or two of coffee, don’t be discouraged. Instead, implement the above prevention practices to keep your smile and overall oral health in tip-top shape!

About the Practice

Led by Dr. Gary Rosenfeld, our entire team at East Islip Dental Care is united behind our mission to help patients nearby achieve good oral health and beautiful smiles. To make this goal a reality, we have multiple dental experts in-house, are open 7 days a week, and have numerous financial options available to make your dental care affordable. If you are overdue for your biannual checkup and cleaning or would like to discuss cosmetic treatments available to brighten your smile, visit our website or give us a call at 631-581-8600.